Wang Chien-ming coach is ‘face of baseball’ in Taiwan

Washington Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty has been “unwittingly thrust into the homes of Taiwanese baseball fans,” according to the Washington Post.

In a sports blog story appearing on the Post Web site, it says that with every new development on Taiwanese pitcher Wang Chien-ming, a “throng” of Taiwanese reporters interviews McCatty on camera in English, “which then get subtitles added before being aired back home.”

JORDAN OF TAIWAN

The story says that Wang is like Michael Jordan in his native Taiwan.

McCatty, 58, is quoted as saying: “Someone told me that Wang could run for president. I said: ‘Wang, if you run for president, I’ll be your vice-president.’ He said: ‘Okay.’”

The Post says that Wang built a “cult-like” following in Taiwan after winning 19 games in consecutive years with the Yankees in 2006 and 2007.

“But Wang is a reserved person and doesn’t always like the attention he has received,” the Post says.

Wang is quoted as saying: “It’s good, but it’s too much.”

According to the Post, Wang finds it humorous to see McCatty’s face on Taiwanese television.

NOT UNDERSTOOD

“The people that are listening to me talk there are the same as here: They don’t understand me,” says McCatty, who is the expert on Wang’s delivery and mechanics.

McCatty does not mind having to answer constant questions about Wang from Taiwanese reporters, but he does find it funny that he is a “face of baseball on the other side of the world.”